1999 FORD WINDSTAR Complaints

I WAS PULLING AWAY AFTER GETTING GAS IN MY WINDSTAR AND HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE, SIMILAR TO WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL IN STEERING, WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO ONE SIDE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS DRIVING ONLY 5 MILES PER HOUR. THE VAN WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (NOT FORD AFFILIATED) AND I WAS TOLD THE SUBFRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE SUBFRAME SNAPPED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IS READY TO SNAP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS FOR ME TO HIT A POTHOLE AND THE SUBFRAME WOULD SNAP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD FALL OUT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAS NEVER SEEN A 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH A SUBFRAME IN THAT CONDITION. HE TOOK PICTURES OF THE SUBFRAME AND EMAILED THEM TO SEVERAL MECHANIC FRIENDS. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED, BY DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THAT FORD RECALLED THE WINDSTARS DUE TO A SUBFRAME ISSUE, BUT I WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL BECAUSE FORD DOES NOT DEEM VIRGINIA A STATE WHERE THEY USE SALT ON THE ROADS IN THE WINTERTIME. I LIVE 10-15 MILES FROM BOTH MARYLAND AND DC, AND THEY ARE BOTH INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I LIVE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND WE RECEIVE HEAVY SNOWFALL DURING THE WINTER. BECAUSE I LIVE CLOSE TO THE BELTWAY, THE DOT AND LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS HEAVILY SALT THE ROADS EVEN BEFORE SNOW STARTS TO FALL. WE HAVE A PERMANENT WHITE COATING ON THE ROADS FROM THE SALT DURING THE WINTERTIME. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT FORD DID NOT RECALL THE WINDSTAR'S IN ALL STATES BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SUBFRAMES ON THE WINDSTARS. THEY DON'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PEOPLE WHO MAY TRAVEL FROM STATE TO STATE, OR PEOPLE WHO BORDER A STATE WHERE THEY HAVE RECALLED THE SUBFRAMES, AND FREQUENTLY DRIVE IN THOSE STATES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, FOR THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGJ ID NUMBER 10V385000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY). THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE SUBFRAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 242,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTION THAT HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BROKE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY), THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION OF THE RECALL AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED DUE TO THE LACK OF RUST AND CORROSION. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SHOCKS AND STEERING RACK. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM ANY TYPE OF REPAIRS AS IT PERTAINED TO THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FAILED THE RECALL INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER FOR FOUR MONTHS BUT WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,000. UPDATED 07/28/11*LJ UPDATED 08/01/11

1. SUB-FRAME WAS BADLY RUSTED OUT. IT BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND THE FRONT TIRES DISENGAGED. 2. THE ROCKER PANEL ON THE LEFT SIDE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS BADLY RUSTED OUT AND IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION ANYMORE. THERE IS SOME RUST ON THE RIGHT ROCKER PANEL ALSO. ALL OF THE RUST IN UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. 3. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON LAST YEAR.

I BOUGHT A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR IN DELAWARE OHIO AT BYERS FORD AND ON THE FIRST DAY I GOT IT WHEN I WOULD PUT ON THE BREAKS THE VAN WOULD SHAKE SO BAD. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN GO OFF. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IS WAS JUST A SENSOR. I RECEIVED THE FIRST RECALL OF THE REAR AXLES BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2010 AND HAD THEM CHECKED AND THEY PUT SOME SPRAY ON THEM. I THEN GOT THE SECOND RECALL FOR THE FRONT SUBFRAME IN FEB OF 2011 AND WHEN I SET UP MY APT IT WAS NOT TILL MAY 25TH 2011 THAT I GOT IN. FOR 3 MONTHS I DEALT WITH THE EMERGENCY BREAK LIGHT BEING ON, THE ABS LIGHT BEING ON A CLICKING NOISE UNDER MY STEERING WHEEL AND ON TOP OF THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY FAMILY AROUND IN IT. THE VAN SHAKES SO BAD THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A MILKSHAKE WHEN YOU STOP. SOMETIMES I WOULD HAVE TO PRESS HARD ON THE BREAKS TO GET IT TO STOP. I TOLD THIS TO THE MAN AT BYERS FORD IN DELAWARE, OH AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS MY ROTORS WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE RECALLS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE RECALL ORDERS AND IT WOULD BE READY BY THE NEXT MORNING. 4 HOURS LATER I GET A CALL THAT MY VAN DID NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO PASSING INSPECTION. MY SUBFRAME IS ACTUALLY BROKE AND THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR SOMETIME. WHY WAS THIS NOT NOTICED BEFORE SELLING THE VAN. AREN'T THEY SUPPOSED TO THOROUGHLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE BEFORE PUTTING IT OUT ON THE LOT? *TR

3 TRANSMISSIONS...MULTIPLE REPAIRS ALL OF WHICH FORD IS AWARE AND CAUSED BY FAULTY DESIGN. RECALLED FOR AXLE AND FRAME ROTTING. FORD USED EPOXY AND A BRACE TO "REPAIR". UNSAFE REPAIR! WARRANTY OFFERED IS ONLY 12 MONTHS, SO FORD ALSO AGREES IT WONT LAST. FRAME AND AXLE SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF VEHICLE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND FORD ISNT WILLING TO TAKE ANY RESPOSIBILITY. THEY HAVE KOWN ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS FOR YEARS, AND ARE NOW SAYING THEY ARENT RESPONSIBLE.

MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR SE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE FOLLOWING RECALLS 09S09 SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION, 10S13 REAR AXLE INSPECTION AND REPAIR, AND 11S16 SUBFRAME FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING FLANGES & REAR BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENTS INSPECTION AND REPAIR. I DIDN'T RECEIVE NOTICE OF ANY OF THESE RECALLS, AND FOUND OUT FROM A FRIEND ABOUT THEM. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VAN STARTED MAKING A SOUND WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT IT THAT IT WAS DUE TO RUSTING OF THE REAR BODY MOUNT ATTACHMENT OF THE SUBFRAME. I TOOK MY VAN IN TO A FORD DEALER TODAY 5/21/2011 FOR THE RECALL INSPECTIONS. I WAS TOLD IT PASSED ALL INSPECTIONS, BUT WAS ONLY IN THE SERVICE DEPT. FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THERE IS ALSO SEVERE RUST ON OTHER AREAS OF MY FRONT SUBFRAME THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD'S RECALLS. I DO NOT FEEL MY VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY INSPECTED. *TR

ABS LIGHT ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MODULE REPLACED BY FORD DEALER TWICE. LIGHT STILL KEEPS COMING ON.